California Native Perennial Plants for Our Area
These plants will grow with little to no summer water once established.
Butterfly, nectar Butterfly, host Beneficial insects Hummingbirds Deer resistant
Dry Sunny Areas
Small – Under 3 feet: Artemisia douglasiana California Mugwort Perennial herb
Asclepias cordifolia Purple Milkweed Perennial herb Ceanothus foliosus x thryrisiflorus var. griseus Centennial Wild Lilac Shrub, evergreen Clematis lasiantha Pipestem Perennial vine Danthonia californica California Oat Grass Perennial bunchgrass
Epilobium canum California Fuchsia ‘Calistoga’ Perennial herb Epilobium canum var. latifolium Cal. Fuchsia 'Everett's Choice' Perennial herb Festuca idahoensis Idaho Fescue Perennial bunchgrass Lewisia cotyledon Cliff Maids ‘Elise’ Perennial herb Monardella villosa Coyote Mint Subshrub, evergreen
Salvia leucophylla Purple Sage ‘Point Sal’ Shrub, semi-evergreen Salvia spathacea Hummingbird Sage Perennial herb, semi-evergreen Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass Perennial herb
Medium–3 feet to 6 feet:
Arctostaphylos densiflora Vine Hill Manzanita ‘Howard McMinn’ Shrub, evergreen
Baccharis pilularis Coyote Bush Shrub, evergreen
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum Venus Thistle Biennial herb Dendromecon rigida Bush Poppy Shrub, evergreen
Eriogonum giganteum St. Catherine’s Lace Shrub, evergreen Muehlenbergia rigens Deer Grass Perennial bunch grass
Large– 6 feet and over:
Arbutus menziesii Pacific Madrone Tree, evergreen Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud Shrub, deciduous Fremontodendron californicum Flannel Bush Shrub, evergreen Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon Shrub, evergreen Quercus kelloggii Black Oak Tree, deciduous
Dry Shady Areas
Small – Under 3 feet:
Arctostaphylos (uva ursi x nummularia ) Manzanita ‘Emerald Carpet’ Shrub, evergreen
Asclepias cordifolia Purple Milkweed Perennial herb, winter dormant
Asclepias eriocarpa Kotolo, Monarch Milkweed Perennial herb, winter dormant
Asclepsias speciosa Showy Milkweed Perennial herb, winter dormant Clinopodium douglasii Yerba Buena Perennial herb, creeping groundcover Cynoglossum grande Hound’s Tongue Perennial herb Dryopteris arguta Wood Fern Perennial fern Festuca californica California Fescue Perennial bunchgrass Fragaria vesca Woodland Strawberry Perennial herb Heuchera micrantha Alum Root Perennial herb Iris douglasiana Douglas Iris Perennial geophyte (bulb) Iris macrosiphon Ground Iris Perennial geophyte (bulb) Iris sp. Pacific Coast Iris Hybrids Perennial geophyte (bulb) Lewisia cotyledon Cliff Maids ‘Elise’ Perennial herb
Lonicera hispidula Pink Honeysuckle Perennial vine, sprawling to twining Pentagramma triangularis Goldback Fern Perennial fern
Medium–3 feet to 6 feet: Acmispon glaber Deerweed Subshrub, deciduous Frangula californica California Coffeeberry Shrub, evergreen Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky Monkey Flower Shrub, deciduous Polystichum munitum Sword Fern Fern, evergreen
Ribes sanguineum Red-flowering Currant Shrub, deciduous
Ribes speciosum Fuchsia-flowering Currant Shrub, deciduous Ribes viburnifolium Evergreen Currant Shrub, evergreen Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Snowberry Shrub, evergreen
Large– 6 feet and over: Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud Shrub, deciduous Garrya flavescens Ashy Silk Tassel Shrub, evergreen Quercus lobata Valley Oak Tree, deciduous
Information in this document is from various sources including Milo Baker Chapter CNPS, Sonoma County Master Gardeners, Jepson eFlora, California Native Plants for the Garden (Bornstein et al. 2005), California Flora Nursery, Las Pilitas Nursery. Many of these plants are available at the Milo Baker October plant sale, California Flora Nursery, and at the Agriculture Department at Mendocino College plant sales. Updated 4/19/15 D. Jeffery.